Rock pickup machine

ABSTRACT

A pickup reel has tracks and rollers which position pickup fingers as the reel is rotated. A step formed in the track causes the fingers to shake during rotation thus clearing same and the fingers are resiliently hinged to clear immovable objects they might encounter.

ilmiiedSmies Pawn Deneky 1 Feb. 1, 1972 [54] RQCK PICKUP MACHINE2,732,672 1/1956 Fleischman.... ...17l/63 3,151,682 10/1964 Bussiere..l7l/63 ['72] inventor: Nick Denelry, General Delivery, Stirling,

Alberta Canada Primary Examiner-Antonio F. Guida [22} Filed: Nov. 26,1969 A!torneyl(ent & Ade

[21] Appl. No.: 880,098

[57] ABSTRACT [52] 0.8.13] ..l71/63, 171/101 [51] Int. Cl. ..A01b 43/00A P p feel has tracks and roller-S which Position P p [58] Field ofSearch ..l7l/63, 101, 92, 129, 116, e as the reel is rotaied- A p formedin the track causes 171/64, 1 12 the fingers to shake during rotationthus clearing same and the fingers are resiliently hinged to clearimmovable objects they [56] References Cited might encounter.

PATENTS 21 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures 1,541,533 6 /1925 Smith ..1 7l/1Q172 94 92 \l; ,es

7 8 I o :7 8 B0 59 138 9 |5 5 l 9 H An 94 72 8 :r I64 I I 35 |8 24 '4 566 20 u :10, I R 5 t 34 8 2s :50

PATENIEBFEB 11972 3,53 ,7

sum 1 BF 3 INVENTOR. ///c/4 ZPLT/Z/ZCK/ BY PATENIEUEE; H972 3.638.735

sum 3 or 3 FIG.6

INVENTOR BY 1 /JQ ATTORNEY ROCK PICKUP MACHINE This invention relates tomobile material pickup machines, and more particularly to atractor-drawn and operated machine for picking up surface stones orrocks from agricultural fields and other ground.

An important object of the invention is the provision of ahopper-equipped machine of the kind indicated which involves a drivenreel which deposits stones into the hopper, and a rock pickup assemblywhich precedes the reel, and which serves to pick up loose surfacerocks, and from which the reel carries picked up rocks to the hopper ina continuous operation.

A more important object of the invention is the provision in a machineof the character indicated above, of a rock pickup assembly which isarranged not only to move automatically and harrniessly out of the waywhen it encounters embedded rock, but to also move the reel harmlesslyout of the way when the pickup assembly is thus displaced, so thatdamage to the tines of the reel and ground gouging by these tines whichwould otherwise occur is eliminated.

It is an object of the invention to have a rotating cross rod precedingthe grate of the pickup assembly so that it will be self-cleaning.

It is an object of the invention that the pickup reel can be used withor without the rock pickup assembly.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a machine of thecharacter indicated above, which because of the damage eliminatingfeatures mentioned above, is adapted to be constructed of lighter gauge,lighter weight materials, and hence less expensively than other heaviermachines, and to be drawn over the ground and operated withcorrespondingly less power.

With the foregoing in view, and such other or further purposes,advantages or novel features as may become apparent from considerationof this disclosure and specification, the present invention consists of,and is hereby claimed to reside in, the inventive concept which iscomprised, embodied, embraced, or included in the method, process,construction, composition, arrangement or combination of parts, or newuse of any of the foregoing, of which concept, one or more specificembodiments of same are herein exemplified as illustrative only of suchconcept, reference being had to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the invention partly broken away.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of FIG. 1, partly broken away, showing therock pickup assembly in operation position, and the reel in operativeposition; and the hopper in depressed normal position in full lines andin dumping position in phantom lines.

FIG. 3 is a front end elevation FiG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section of FIG. 2 showing the purposeof the track as it guides the tines past the hopper after said tineshave dumped their load of rocks.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged detailed view illustrating the mounting of thetines on the reel, and the stop and the spring which controls thesetines.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary enlarged side elevation of the preferred trackassembly and is a modification of the track assembly shown in FIGS. 1 to5.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the different figures.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the illustrated machine comprises arectangular frame having parallel spaced longitudinal side members 12, afront crossmember 16, and a rear crossmember 17. Fixed to the ends ofthe front crossmember 16 are lateraily inwardly and forwardly extendingmembers 18, which meet to form a support for a tractor hitch 20 (FIG.

Wheel brackets 24 extend downwardly from the side frame members 12, andcarry ground engaging wheels 56.

A rock pickup assembly generally designated 34, comprises brackets 36attached to front crossmember 16, rearwardly and downwardly extendingshanks 38 are pivoted to brackets 36,

adjacent to the inner sides of the side members 12, and a single suchshank 39 is attached to the bracket 36 in the middle of crossmember 16.The forwardly extending shoes 44, attached to the shanks 38 and 39 havea rotary cross rod 42 extending through them.

As shown in FIG. 2 the shoes 44 and the cross rod 42 are adapted toengage in the ground G just below the prevailing surface thereof, so asto lift loose rocks therefrom as the machine is moved forwardly, and todeposit these rocks onto a grate generally designated 46. The spacing ofthe grate bars 50 allows the soil and debris to fall through while therocks of a desired size are retained.

For rotating the cross rod 42, in order to prevent the accumulation ofdebris thereon, a drive is provided which comprices a shaft 41, which isflexibly connected at 43 to the rod 42, and at 45 to a shaft 47 (FIG.3). The shaft 47 is journaled on an outrigger bracket 49 fixed to ashank 38 and to the grate 48 and has a sprocket wheel 51 over which achain 53 is trained.

The chain 53 is also trained over a sprocket wheel 55 on a shaft 57which is journaled through a bearing on the adjacent shank 38 (FIG. 1).The tractor power takeoff is attached to drive shaft 100, and by meansof gearbox 102 the shaft 57 is rotated and this in turn rotates thecross rod 42 in a counter clockwise direction as seen in FIG. 2.

The grate 46 comprises a transverse shaft 48 which is attached to shanks38 and 39 behind the cross rod 42. Parallel spaced rearwardly extendingrods 50 are fixed to and spaced along the flat-iron shaft 48. Passage ofcross rod 42 and the grate 46 over an embedded rock produces harmlesselevation of the pickup assembly 34. Fixed to the lower ends of theshanks 38 are supports 14 which support the reel, one at each endthereof. As the pickup assembly is lifted by embedded rock the reel andall its components are also elevated harmlessly out of the reach ofthese rocks.

For elevating the shanks 38 and 39 and hence the grate 46 and the reel68 above the ground at will, a hydraulic cylinder 22 is pivoted to amember 18 and to a vertical arm 5 which is fixed to a transverse shaft6. The transverse shaft 6 has at either end fixed upright arms 7. Thecylinder 22 is attached to arm 5 by means of a short chain 8, thisallows the arm 7 to move ahead at will if the need be, but will notallow the arms to move backward past a desired point. An L-shaped swivel9 is flexibly connected to bracket 11 fixed to a side frame member 12,one to each side. A connecting link 13 is flexibly connected to arms 7and to the L-shaped swivel 9, and another connecting link 10 flexiblyattaches swivel 9 to reel support 14 one at either side of the machineimmediately inside the frame side members 12. This arrangement enablesthe tractor driver to clear the working components of the machine fromthe ground and it also ensures that the pickup assembly always remainsparallel to the frame; as both sides must move up or down equally withthis lifting device.

The reel generally designated 68 comprises a transverse reel shaft 70which is journaled through its upright supports 14 at a substantialdistance behind the pickup assembly 34, the shaft 70 having thereonfixed arms 37 and braces 60. Crossmembers 62, usually of angle iron areattached at each end thereof to arms 37 in a manner enabling them topivot on bearings 94) (FIG. 5). Springs 56 are attached to cross shifts62 and serve to keep the tine assemblies 58 against stops 93 (FIG. 5).The tine assemblies 58 which are attached to crossmembers 6.2 inparallel and equally spaced fashion reach spacedly into the spacesbetween adjacent ones of the pickup assembly grate bars 50, adjacent tothe rear ends of the latter. Tines 58 are secured to said crossmembersand are substantially basket shaped as illustrated.

Tracks 88 are attached to the grate 46 and to supports 14 at bearinghousing 59 by a brace 160. The tracks 88 one at each side of the reelserve to retract tines Sii as they pass the hopper by means of rollers92 on ends of arms 91 attached to crossmember 62 (FIG. 4). The tines arereleased to their picking position as they near the grate 46.

Continuous rotation of the reel is produced by a geared drive assemblyconsisting of a gearbox 102 fixed upon plate 66 attached to shank 39 ofthe pickup assembly and contains a forwardly extending shaft 100 adaptedto be connected to a power takeoff shaft of a tractor connected to thehitch 20. The box 102 also contains a transverse power shaft 57 which isjournaled through a bearing 130 fixed upon the end shank 38. The shaft57 has thereon, outside the adjacent frame side member 12 a sprocketwheel 132 over which is trained a rearwardiy extending sprocket chain134. The chain 134 is trained at its rear end over a sprocket wheel 136on the outwardly end of the reel shaft 70 which is journaled through abearing in housing 59 on upright supports 14 attached to shaft 38. Withthis arrangement, the components being properly proportioned, operationof the drive assembly rotates the reel continuously.

The hopper 150 is rectangular shape and is suspended from the machineframe extensions 80 by vertical bars 82 having pivots as shown at 84 and86 (FIG. 2). Hydraulic cylinders 164 are pivoted at their lower ends asindicated at 166 to the frame side members 12, and the upstanding pistonrods 162 are pivoted to the vertical bars 82 (FIG. 2). A connecting rod94, pivoted at 72 and 79 tips and dumps the hopper at its elevatedposition. The cylinders 164 are suitably connected to the hydraulicsystem of the tractor, whereby the tractor driver can at will dump thehopper 150 into which the tines of the reel dump rocks.

FIG. 6 is a modification of the structure previously described and whereapplicable, similar reference characters have been given the structure.The reel assembly 68 is mounted within bearings 59 upon the upper endsof arms 14 which in turn are pivotally connected for raising andlowering as hereinbefore described.

The track assembly collectively designated 170 consists of atine-retracting portion 171 which includes a partially arcuately curvedlower end 172 and an upwardly and rearwardly inclined upper portion 173and being situated adjacent the hopper 150. Braces 174 mount thesetracks as illustrated.

The remainder of the track is identified as a guiding portion 175 andextends substantially around the remainder of the path traversed by thetine assemblies 58' during their movement in direction of arrow 176 ashereinbefore described This guiding portion includes an upper segment177 and a side segment or front segment 178 and it should be observedthat the trailing end 179 of the front segment 178 is stepped above theleading end 180 of the upper segment 177 so that as the antifrictionrollers 92, which engage the outer surfaces of these portions, passesfrom the end 179 to the end 180, there is a distinct drop thus acting asa shaker mechanism to clear soil from the tines.

As the roller 92 reaches the trailing end 181 of the upper section, therollers engage the inner surface of the leading end 182 of the trackportion 173 thus retracting the tine assemblies until it reaches thelower end of the portion 172 whereupon it engages the leading edge 183of a hinged track portion 184. This portion 184 constitutes the lowertrack portion and is hinged by the and 185 to the leading end 186 of theaforementioned front or side portion 175.

A compression spring 187 is connected by one end thereof to the innersurface of the lower portion 184 and this spring reacts against a stop188 normally biasing the hinged portion downwardly to the limits of thespring-mounted rod 189. If the tine assemblies strike an obstructionwhen at the lowermost or rock picking position, they can retract due tothe pivotal mounting thereof and at the same time force the portion ofthe track 184 upwardly against pressure of spring 187 thus preventingdamage from occurring.

As the tine assemblies pass this lower portion 184 or the ob structionis cleared, the spring 187 biases the track portion 184 downwardly intothe operative position once again.

The more or less continuous track gives accurate control and eliminatesthe necessity of springs 56 illustrated and described in the previousembodiment.

l have found that under certain conditions, i can eliminate the rockpickup assembly, relying entirely on the rotating reel to scoop stonesfrom the surface of the ground and to deposit same in the dumpbox. Thisis accomplished by the specific design of the reel, particularly thereel shown in FIG. 6 and some of the claims attached hereto cover thisparticular concept.

Various modifications can be made within the scope of the inventiveconcept which is herein disclosed and/or claimed.

What is claimed to be the present invention is:

l. A rock picker comprising in combination a wheel supported framework,a rock pickup assembly depending from said framework and extendingtransversely across said framework, a reel mounted for rotation abovesaid framework and rearwardiy of said rock pickup assembly, and a hopperin said framework situated to the rear of said reel, said reel includinga mounting shaft, a plurality of tine supporting arms extending fromadjacent the ends of said shaft, tine assemblies mounted between theends of said arms transversely across said reel, means to rotate saidreel, means to retract said tines as said tines pass through the segmentof a circle adjacent said hopper, and means interconnecting said rockpickup assembly and said reel whereby the raising and lowering of saidrock pickup assembly causes corresponding raising and lowering of saidreel, said means to retract said tines including a pair of arcuatelycurved tracks operatively connected to said rock pickup assembly andsaid reel and antifriction means on the end of each of said tineassembly engaging said tracks and pivoting said tine assemblies into theretracted position.

2. The device according to claim 1 in which said pickup assemblyincludes a plurality of spaced and parallel shanks pivotally secured byone end thereof to said framework and extending downwardly andrearwardiy therefrom, ground engaging shoes on the other ends of saidshanks, transverse ground engageable rotatable rod extending throughsaid shoes, a transverse grate extending between said other ends of saidshanks, and a plurality of spaced and parallel grate rods extendingrearwardiy from said grate.

3. The device according to claim 2 in which said means interconnectingsaid reel with said rock pickup assembly includes a pair of reelsupports secured by one end thereof to said rock pickup assembly, saidreel shaft being journaled for rotation in the other ends of saidsupports, and linkage means extending between said supports and saidframework, said linkage means including adjustable power means foractuating said linkage and loose link component between said power meansand said linkage to permit raising and lowering of said interconnectedreel and rock pickup assembly independently of said power means.

4. The device according to claim 3 in which said tine assemblies includea plurality of spaced and parallel basket shaped tines pivotally securedto said tine support arms, said tines passing between said grate barsand being positioned to lift rocks and stones from said grate bars asthey pass therebetween.

5. The device according to claim 3 in which said tine assemblies includecrossbars extending between the end of said arms and being journaled forpartial rotation within said ends, a plurality of spaced and paralleltines secured to said crossbars, spring means extending between saidtines and said arms normally maintaining said tines in the extendedposition and stops on said arms engageable by said tines limiting saidextending position of said tines.

6. The device according to claim 5 in which said tines pass between saidgrate bars and are positioned to lift rocks and stones from said gratebars as said tines pass therebetween.

7. The device according to claim 2 in which said tine assemblies includea plurality of spaced and parallel basket-shaped tines pivotally securedto said tine support arms, said tines passing between said grate barsand being positioned to lift rocks and stones from said grate bars asthey pass therebetween.

8. The device according to claim 2 in which said tine assemblies includecrossbars extending between the ends of said arms and being journaledfor partial rotation within said ends, a plurality of spaced andparallel tines secured to said crossbars, spring means extending betweensaid tines and said arms normally maintaining said tines in the extendedposition and stops on said arms engageable by said tines limiting saidextending position of said tines.

9. The device according to claim 8 in which said tines pass between saidgrate bars and are positioned to lift rocks and stones from said gratebars as said tines pass therebetween.

10. The device according to claim 1 in which said tine assembliesinclude crossbars extending between the ends of said arms and beingjournaled for partial rotation within said ends, a plurality of spacedand parallel tines secured to said crossbars. spring means extendingbetween said tines and said arms normally maintaining said tines in theextended position and stops on said arms engageable by said tineslimiting said extending position of said tines.

11. The device according to claim 10 in which said tines pass betweensaid grate bars and are positioned to lift rocks and stones from saidgrate bars as said tines pass therebetween.

12. The rock picker according to claim 1 in which said arcuately curvedtracks include a tine-retraction portion adjacent said hopper and aguiding portion extending substantially through the remainder of thepath followed by said tine assemblies, said major portion including ahinged, spring-loaded segment adjacent the lower side thereof wherebysaid tine assembly moves upwardly if an obstruction is engaged thereby.

13. The rock picker according to claim 12 which includes a steppedportion in said track acting as a shaker mechanism.

14. The rock picker according to claim 13 in which said hinged,spring-loaded segment includes a curved track portion hinged by one endthereof to the remainder of said major portion and adapted to swingupwardly relative thereto, and a compression spring reacting betweensaid hinged segment and said framework normally biasing said segmentdownwardly within limits, said antifriction means on the ends of eachtine assembly engaging said arcuately curved tracks on the inner surfacethereof and said guiding portion upon the outer surface thereof.

15. The rock picker according to claim 12 in which said hinged,spring-loaded segment includes a curved track portion hinged by one endthereof to the remainder of said major portion and adapted to swingupwardly relative thereto, and a compression spring reacting betweensaid hinged segment and said framework normally biassing said segmentdownwardly within limits, said antifriction means on the ends of eachtine assembly engaging said arcuately curved tracks on the inner surfacethereof and said guiding portion upon the outer surface thereof.

16. In a rock picker which includes a reel-supported framework, and ahopper in said framework, a reel mounted for rotation above saidframework, said reel including a mounting shaft, a plurality of tinesupporting arms extending from adjacent the ends of said shaft, tineassemblies mounted between the ends of said arms transversely acrosssaid reel, means to rotate said reel, and means to retract said tines assaid tines pass through the segment of the circle adjacent said hopper,said last-mentioned means including a pair of arcuately curved trackssupported in said framework and antifriction means on the end of each ofsaid tine assemblies engaging said tracks and pivoting said tineassemblies into the retracted position, said arcuately curved tracksincluding a tine retraction portion adjacent said hopper and a guidingportion extending substantially through the remainder of the pathfollowed by said tine assemblies, said major portion including a hinged,spring-loaded segment adjacent the lower side thereof whereby said tineassembly moves upwardly if an obstruction is engaged thereby.

17. The device according to claim 16 in which said tine assembliesinclude a plurality of spaced and parallel basketshaged tines pivotallysecured to said tines suplport arms 1 The device according to claim 16in w ich said true assemblies include crossbars extending between theends of said arms and being journaled for partial rotation within saidends, a plurality of spaced and parallel tines secured to saidcrossbars, spring means extending between said tines and said armsnormally maintaining said tines in the extended position and stops onsaid arms engageable by said tines limiting said extended position ofsaid tines.

19. The device according to claim 16 which includes a stepped portioninsert track acting as a shaker mechanism.

20. The according to claim 19 in which said hinged, springloaded segmentincludes a curved track portion hinged by one end thereof to theremainder of said major portion and adapted to swing upwardly relativethereto, and a compression spring reacting between said hinged segmentand said framework normally biassing said segment downwardly withinlimits, said antifriction means on the ends of each tine assemblyengaging said arcuately curved tracks on the inner surface thereof andsaid guiding portion upon the outer surface thereof.

21. The device according to claim 16 which said hinged, spring-loadedsegment includes a curved track portion hinged by one end thereof to theremainder of said major portion and adapted to swing upwardly relativethereto, and a compression spring reacting between said hinged segmentand said framework normally biassing said segment downwardly withinlimits, said antifn'ction means on the ends of each tine assemblyengaging said arcuately curved tracks on the inner surface thereof andsaid guiding portion upon the outer surface thereof.

1. A rock picker comprising in combination a wheel supported framework,a rock pickup assembly depending from said framework and extendingtransversely across said framework, a reel mounted for rotation abovesaid framework and rearwardly of said rock pickup assembly, and a hopperin said framework situated to the rear of said reel, said reel includinga mounting shaft, a plurality of tine supporting arms extending fromadjacent the ends of said shaft, tine assemblies mounted between theends of said arms transversely across said reel, means to rotate saidreel, means to retract said tines as said tines pass through the segmentof a circle adjacent said hopper, and means interconnecting said rockpickup assembly and said reel whereby the raising and lowering of saidrock pickup assembly causes corresponding raising and lowering of saidreel, said means to retract said tines including a pair of arcuatelycurved tracks operatively connected to said rock pickup assembly andsaid reel and antifriction means on the end of each of said tineassembly engaging said tracks and pivoting said tine assemblies into theretracted position.
 2. The device according to claim 1 in which saidpickup assembly includes a plurality of spaced and parallel shankspivotally secured by one end thereof to said framework and extendingdownwardly and rearwardly therefrom, ground engaging shoes on the otherends of said shanks, transverse ground engageable rotatable rodextending through said shoes, a transverse grate extending between saidother ends of said shanks, and a plurality of spaced and parallel graterods extending rearwardly from said grate.
 3. The device according toclaim 2 in which said means interconnecting said reel with said rockpickup assembly includes a pair of reel supports secured by one endthereof to said rock pickup assembly, said reel shaft being journaledfor rotation in the other ends of said supports, and linkage meansextending between said supports and said framework, said linkage meansincluding adjustable power means for actuating said linkage and looselink component between said power means and said linkage to permitraising and lowering of said interconnected reel and rock pickupassembly independently of said power means.
 4. The device according toclaim 3 in which said tine assemblies include a plurality of spaced andparallel basket shaped tines pivotally secured to said tine supportarms, said tines passing between said grate bars and being positioNed tolift rocks and stones from said grate bars as they pass therebetween. 5.The device according to claim 3 in which said tine assemblies includecrossbars extending between the end of said arms and being journaled forpartial rotation within said ends, a plurality of spaced and paralleltines secured to said crossbars, spring means extending between saidtines and said arms normally maintaining said tines in the extendedposition and stops on said arms engageable by said tines limiting saidextending position of said tines.
 6. The device according to claim 5 inwhich said tines pass between said grate bars and are positioned to liftrocks and stones from said grate bars as said tines pass therebetween.7. The device according to claim 2 in which said tine assemblies includea plurality of spaced and parallel basket-shaped tines pivotally securedto said tine support arms, said tines passing between said grate barsand being positioned to lift rocks and stones from said grate bars asthey pass therebetween.
 8. The device according to claim 2 in which saidtine assemblies include crossbars extending between the ends of saidarms and being journaled for partial rotation within said ends, aplurality of spaced and parallel tines secured to said crossbars, springmeans extending between said tines and said arms normally maintainingsaid tines in the extended position and stops on said arms engageable bysaid tines limiting said extending position of said tines.
 9. The deviceaccording to claim 8 in which said tines pass between said grate barsand are positioned to lift rocks and stones from said grate bars as saidtines pass therebetween.
 10. The device according to claim 1 in whichsaid tine assemblies include crossbars extending between the ends ofsaid arms and being journaled for partial rotation within said ends, aplurality of spaced and parallel tines secured to said crossbars, springmeans extending between said tines and said arms normally maintainingsaid tines in the extended position and stops on said arms engageable bysaid tines limiting said extending position of said tines.
 11. Thedevice according to claim 10 in which said tines pass between said gratebars and are positioned to lift rocks and stones from said grate bars assaid tines pass therebetween.
 12. The rock picker according to claim 1in which said arcuately curved tracks include a tine-retraction portionadjacent said hopper and a guiding portion extending substantiallythrough the remainder of the path followed by said tine assemblies, saidmajor portion including a hinged, spring-loaded segment adjacent thelower side thereof whereby said tine assembly moves upwardly if anobstruction is engaged thereby.
 13. The rock picker according to claim12 which includes a stepped portion in said track acting as a shakermechanism.
 14. The rock picker according to claim 13 in which saidhinged, spring-loaded segment includes a curved track portion hinged byone end thereof to the remainder of said major portion and adapted toswing upwardly relative thereto, and a compression spring reactingbetween said hinged segment and said framework normally biasing saidsegment downwardly within limits, said antifriction means on the ends ofeach tine assembly engaging said arcuately curved tracks on the innersurface thereof and said guiding portion upon the outer surface thereof.15. The rock picker according to claim 12 in which said hinged,spring-loaded segment includes a curved track portion hinged by one endthereof to the remainder of said major portion and adapted to swingupwardly relative thereto, and a compression spring reacting betweensaid hinged segment and said framework normally biassing said segmentdownwardly within limits, said antifriction means on the ends of eachtine assembly engaging said arcuately curved tracks on the inner surfacethereof and said guiding portion upon the outer surface thereof.
 16. Ina rock picker which includes a reel-supported framewoRk, and a hopper insaid framework, a reel mounted for rotation above said framework, saidreel including a mounting shaft, a plurality of tine supporting armsextending from adjacent the ends of said shaft, tine assemblies mountedbetween the ends of said arms transversely across said reel, means torotate said reel, and means to retract said tines as said tines passthrough the segment of the circle adjacent said hopper, saidlast-mentioned means including a pair of arcuately curved trackssupported in said framework and antifriction means on the end of each ofsaid tine assemblies engaging said tracks and pivoting said tineassemblies into the retracted position, said arcuately curved tracksincluding a tine retraction portion adjacent said hopper and a guidingportion extending substantially through the remainder of the pathfollowed by said tine assemblies, said major portion including a hinged,spring-loaded segment adjacent the lower side thereof whereby said tineassembly moves upwardly if an obstruction is engaged thereby.
 17. Thedevice according to claim 16 in which said tine assemblies include aplurality of spaced and parallel basket-shaped tines pivotally securedto said tines support arms.
 18. The device according to claim 16 inwhich said tine assemblies include crossbars extending between the endsof said arms and being journaled for partial rotation within said ends,a plurality of spaced and parallel tines secured to said crossbars,spring means extending between said tines and said arms normallymaintaining said tines in the extended position and stops on said armsengageable by said tines limiting said extended position of said tines.19. The device according to claim 16 which includes a stepped portioninsert track acting as a shaker mechanism.
 20. The according to claim 19in which said hinged, spring-loaded segment includes a curved trackportion hinged by one end thereof to the remainder of said major portionand adapted to swing upwardly relative thereto, and a compression springreacting between said hinged segment and said framework normallybiassing said segment downwardly within limits, said antifriction meanson the ends of each tine assembly engaging said arcuately curved trackson the inner surface thereof and said guiding portion upon the outersurface thereof.
 21. The device according to claim 16 which said hinged,spring-loaded segment includes a curved track portion hinged by one endthereof to the remainder of said major portion and adapted to swingupwardly relative thereto, and a compression spring reacting betweensaid hinged segment and said framework normally biassing said segmentdownwardly within limits, said antifriction means on the ends of eachtine assembly engaging said arcuately curved tracks on the inner surfacethereof and said guiding portion upon the outer surface thereof.